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A80839 Berith Anti-Baal, or Zach. Croftons appearance before the prelate-justice of peace, vainly pretending to binde the covenant and covenanters to their good behaviour. By way of rejoynder to, and animadversion on Doctor John Gauden's reply or vindication of his analysis, from the (by him reputed) pitiful cavils and objections; but really proved powerful and convincing exceptions of Mr. Zach. Croftons Analepsis. / By the author of the Analepsis, and (not by the Dr observed) Analepsis anelephthe, to the continuing of St. Peter's bonds, and fastning his fetters against papal and prelatical power. Crofton, Zachary, 1625 or 6-1672. 1661 (1661) Wing C6988; Thomason E1085_6; ESTC R208062 67,248 104

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he one of them guide or guided because he knoweth not how to go into the City which one thus illustrates Nesciunt viam in Vrbem Lava qui a recto tramite aberrant in loca a via adducuntur The Dr having in his Analysis loosed from the Haven of Reason true Religion and the fear of God runs adrift where-ever the wind of his own words can hurry him and leads his Reader into a wilderness where he hears no sound but the shrieks of Satyrs barking and howling of beasts at best raging and rayling of men or wilde and improper discourses that direct to no certain end The Dr having unhappily returned railing unto what seemed rational in his Anatomist according to what is noted as usual with heretiques Haeretici cum perver sitatis suae non possunt reddere rationem in maledicta convertuntur and endeavoured by words and shuffling glosses to darken the plainness and clearness of the truth urged by the Analeptist of whom we must say as Bishop Jewel of the Jesuite Harding in his confutation of him Who so takes upon him to maintain untruth must needs be forced to discourse about with long vagaries to lead his Reader from the purpose and to feed him with words for want of matter Defence of the Apologie of the Church of England Preface to the Reader The truth is the Reverend Dr hath expressed great affection to Episcopacy in his zeal for it fully matching Harding's apprehension of the Papacy and Assertion That the Popes chair or English Prelacy is the very knot of Christian Vnity and so branding with Schism all that say the contrary Nor falls he much short of Pope Boniface having according to the measure of his Prelatical power Anathematized all Presbyters as he did Aurelius and all the Bishops of the Councel of Africa not exempting Augustine himself Aurelius cum collegis suis instigante diabolo superbire caepit contra Romanam Ecclesiam Nor is he much defective in their subtilty whilst visum est utile ut scribatur ad Episcopum Romanum ut consideret res nostras det consilium will more easily signifie the Popes power and be rendred It hath seemed good that we write unto the Bishop of Rome that he visit us and determine our matter by his sentence then I swear with reality sincerity and constancy to endeavour the extirpation of Prelacy that is to say the Government by Arch-bishops Bishops c. can be rendred I do swear to my power to establish and advance Prelacy the Government by Arch-bishops Bishops only I will consent to reform the excessive and defective abuses thereof but the cause cannot be good that must be salved by such strained yea contrary interpretations especially in matters of an Oath with how great ability the Dr hath managed his great affection against his little Antagonist let wise men judge the weight of the cause and some mens doting on the bare say so of a Bishop more then the cogency of the Reply hath produced this following Tract to thy cost and trouble as well as my pains and expence of more precious time into which before I pass thee I must minde thee of these two things pretermitted in the following Animadversion 1. That Dr Gauden seems to gather much strength from the silence or seeming compliances of some to his absurd contradictory interpretations of the Covenant Because I will do him or them on whom he reflects no wrong read his own words viz. I finde no men of learning and ingenuity but are ashamed to appear in such a cause Sober Presbyterians do very loyally piously prudently own yea and profess to the King's Majesty a quiescence under Episcopal Government as no way inconsistent with the Covenant Epist to the Reader This mitigated and just sense of the Covenant some that were and are great masters in our Israel and assertors of the Covenant are now content to owne abating the rigour which somtime possessed some Covenanters against Episcopacy in that sense wherein this and most other Churches ever owned and used Episcopal Government and Authority among and above Presbyters yea many of them begin to cast a favourable eye on Episcopal dignity no less then on Church lands fearing nothing so much as not to have a share of them much congratulating as the King 's happy restauration so the hopes of recovering the pristine Honour and Government with the Revenue and Rights of the Church in point of Episcopacy not in the fallacy of a Presbyterian parity but of a presidential constant eminency of Bishops in authority over Presbyters pag. 72 73. That any have by their silence or seeming compliance given the least occasion to this insultation is matter of grief and scandal to good men who yet have observed the subtile attempts strenuous endeavors of Prelats and their abettors to tempt debauch the consciences of some Zealous Covenanters and cannot but bless God that any have obtained power to withstand such temptations decline such glorious baits which should they and many have admitted I was am resolved through divine grace to sing no song under the sufferings that are threatned against me save only this All this is come upon me yet have I not dealt falsly in thy Covenant but charity bids me conclude that the Dr reckons without his host and that the boasting clamour is a base calumny He professeth the reason of the so late appearance of this elaborate wilderness was an expectation of what others would say in the cause and yet he runs so fast as not to heed the Covenanters Plea which would have told him some men no way short in learning and ingenuity of Dr Gauden did appear in such a cause moreover many may and do appear in it that appear not to write for it Pen and Pulpit are different capacities multitudes of books need not let the Dr judiciously not judicially confute one of his Antagonists I dare assure him more will take up the quarrel and defend it I could if he call on me shew the letters of many faithful Covenanters out of many Counties in England joyntly and singly owning the same cause of the Covenant with Mr Cr. and are neither afraid nor ashamed to own it I know not what any particular Presbyter might profess to his Majesty I hope such on whom the Dr reflecteth will in due season vindicate themselves I have cause to think the Dr reports this as faithfully as he did Mr Baxter's discourse about the Liturgie I well know that those who had immediate conference with his Majesty professed in private debates with their Brethren another judgement of the Covenant and Episcopacy then what is now reported of them I am sure at a general meeting of the Covenant Presbyters in and about the City of London the cause of the Covenant was debated generally owned in its opposition to Episcopacy and other things returned amongst us and by joynt consent it was agreed to petition his Majesty and
and Caesar the things that are Caesars which have been too long held back with violence I wish Sir that none may pretend an inconsistency between this act of Repentance and the Good Old Cause of God and his People for whoever shall so doe must sell themselves unto positive blasphemy and perpetuall profanenesse pretending that to be the Cause of God which is expresly repugnant to his revealed Will and resolving Rebellion is the honour of Religion and only work of Saints and wilfully shut their eyes that they may cozen their Consciences For Sir is not the Kings Preservation Honour and Happinesse the Priviledges of Parliament the Liberty of the Subject and defence of the Government by King Lords and Commons written in such Legible Characters in the Parliaments Cities and Armies Declarations Remonstrances and Protestation in all our Vows Oaths and Covenants as the Good Old Cause for which so much bloud and treasure was expended that none but the wilfull impenitent can chuse but run and read it I shall for more full conviction refer you to Mr. Prynns Good Old Cause truly stated which I know you have seen Neither Sir would I have the hazard of any mans life or estate threatned by this repentance be any bar unto it for Sir this hazard is self-created and sinfully procured which should it be inflicted were but the proper effect of Justice better to be undergone here then hereafter unto eternity happy may be the stroke of Justice which may save a Soul from Hell the sinful escapes of humane Justice will one day be found exceeding sad Running away from the rod of correction is an heightning rebellion and note of a Reprobate and whither will such flie from Gods all-seeing eye Or will it boot any to contend with God for impunity Oh no it will not But Sir such men may be worse feared then hurt Repentance is the spunge of Guilt in the sight of men as well as in the sight of God God who hath the hearts of Kings in his hand and turns them as the rivers of water relents towards a repenting Ephraim and maketh David relent towards a rebellious Absalon Royall Clemency never shines brighter then in returns from violent exile Shall any be put to death this day in Israel for doe I not know that I am this day King in Israel Is Davids answer to the son of Zerviah provoking against Shimei who had full well deserved it Any indifferent Politician can give assurance of indempnity for generall delinquency especially when true repentance is the spring that doth enforce it Lastly Sir let none stand up against this act of Repentance and cry It is dangerous to Religion a Free Parliament will call home the King and he is rude and prophane and converseth among Papists and will bring Popery into the Land with him To such I say in short How came they into Gods Chair to become solicitous of Event is uncertain fear of an issue any ground of bar to duty Where is our Faith should carry us on in duty against all dread Needs God our Sin to preserve the Sanctitie of his holy Name Will not this prove a sad support unto Religion But is not this fear groundlesse Is not the King a Protestant born and brought up bound in the same Solemn League and Covenant with our selves Hath not our sin subjected him to the saddest temptation to turn Papist that ever poor Prince underwent Doth not Mr. Prynn tell us plainly and upon good demonstration That his exile is the great propagation of the Catholick Cause and high courtesie to Rome Sir these obstructions are all frivolous and so will appear if ever God pour on the Nation a Spirit of Repentance Worthy Sir I have with the plainnesse of a Minister and freedome of a Friend given my thoughts on your Enquirie and that not Rashly but as having consulted the Oracles of God And I cannot but beg that you persist no longer in your way of sin Oh that God would give you and your fellow-Members hearts to give him Glory and after your successe to take to your selves shame for your sinfull subversion of an Established Government and that with pretence of Law calling your selves a Parliament when your own Consciences tell you you are no such thing Sir England is inclining to repent if your House prove not a Sheba to sound again the Trumpet of Rebellion However my advice is Let the Ministers of God cry out Repent England Repent Repent and let all the people of God pray That England may return and seek unto the Lord and to David their King Then shall we be established enjoying our Princes as at the first and our Rulers as at the beginning I have no more save with the Prophet Ezekiel They whether they will hear or whether they will forbear for they are a Rebellious House yet shall know there hath been a Prophet among them Ezek. 2.5 FINIS BERITH ANTI-BAAL OR Zachary Croftons appearance BEFORE The Prelate Justice of Peace PRETENDING To bind the Covenant and all Covenanters to their good behaviours WHen Dr. John Gauden first appeared in the World with his Analysis to the sinful loosing of St. Peters bonds under a plausible pretence of counselling a Christian friend in a matter of great concernment and resolving the conscience in the point of the solemn League and Covenant and its opposition to Episcopacy Mr. Crofton considering the good observation of Gregory the great Lib. Mor. 22. cap. 2● made of the course of Heretiques sub specie eonsulendi agunt negotium seducendi that they pretending to play the Casuistes to resolve conscience and to advise in matters of Religion drive on the design of seducing souls and subverting the truth and Salvation Thought it no less then his duty to consider the same very seriously and to try it by the rule of Scripture and right reason and finding in that book what ever was the Authors intention too great a tendency to enervate all sacred bonds Invalidate yea annihilate the solemn League and Covenant and thereby supplant the peace and happiness of our restored King and Kingdom he apprehended it his duty as a Minister of Jesus Christ and his Church though the meanest and least to be regarded to intimate to the worshipful person concerned and by him those to whom that book should come Sir ● B. the dissatisfaction and delusive danger he found in that book and therefore he did on July 8. 1660. send after it an Analepsis or St. Peters bonds abide detecting the impiety thereof in subverting the Covenant by a pretended interpretation thereof nay enervating the sacred obligation and power of all Oaths by the principles therein suggested and its excee●ing imbecillity as to the satisfaction of conscience unto which it professed This done Mr. Crofton composed himself in s●lence and submission waiting for the reply of the reverend Author of the Analysis but received none onely more then one though one a stranger to Mr. Crofton
by Mr. Cr. in his Analepsis Analephthe Sect. 3. pag. 35. and avoid it if he can onely take notice it is the honesty of the Covenant not all Covenanters that Mr. Crofton pleads with confidence he confesseth many cups may be found in his brethrens sacks but not in any Article of the Covenant and Dr. Gaudens multiplyed reiterated Ifs do make me confident of Benjamins innocency and apt to think things unknown are thrust upon them but not from so pious a principle and to so charitable an end as Joseph acted from and aimed at but truely Doctor it is a Sophistical evasion to confound things and persons in a dispute but this the learned Doctor doth decline as to the name office degree order and Authority of a Bishop in Scripture Sir do you not now appear a greater dictatour then little Mr. Crofton Pag. 249. who rationally urged his exception and is no way affraid or unwilling in this case to try a turn with Dr. John Gauden on the questions before propounded who yet will hold to his ingenuous agnition which so much pleaseth you viz. that the Covenant is not levelled against any real excellency in the Bishops which is all that Mr. Crofton agnifed Analep Pag. 25. though you according to your usual falshood do add authority estate and honour which Mr. Cr. noted to be unwarrantable neither to be assumed by them nor attributed to them and Sir I must tell you ruine and extirpation of the frame of the English Hierarchy doth no way interfere with the preservation and esteem of any real excellency in Bishops but that Mr. Crofton may be ready and bound if in a capacity to vail that pompous worldly State and wicked superiority which Church Governours had obtained a note or instance of which he gave in Lawn sleeves no more puerile or scurrilous nor unbeseeming a Scholar or Gentleman then the baseness and contemptible inferiority of Presbyters was by you marked out in a black coat to which that was opposed is below the sobriety of a man the humility of a Primus Presbyter and reverence of a Christian to the poorest meanest Minister of Christ and speaks your prelatical Pride much more then your Rochet and Chymer sets out your pomp which my baptisme binds against and will engage the Boanergesses of God to thunder out terrour against Covenant breaking which you account a weak Womanish flash Pag. 249 251. yet will not be quenched by your first demonstrations or this reply by your judicious self proclaimed rational and conscientious though to all men beside proud prophane ridiculous weak and wicked whilst Mr. Crofton seeketh not to strain the ●ovenant beyond its own just and ingenuous resolution Pag 251. sence operation influence and obligation consenting to and rejoycing in its limitation to the Word of God and dutys of our places and callings by which Mr. Crofton is resolved he will be judged and is in himself assured that King and Kingdome accordingly keeping their Covenant the controverted Episcopacy will be at an end and the commission of our present Prelate Justices expired and useless covenanters by their good behaviour proving the solemn League and Covenant to be as indeed it is Berith Anti-Baall which Dr. Gauden blasphemously denominateth Baal Berith and Mr. Crofton is nor shall no way be shye of retrospection how or by whom to what or in what sence it binds and the rationality of its obligation all which he hath seriously considered in an opposition to the Oxford Reasons to which the Doctor so often retireth as he may see in my Analepsis Anelephthe pag. 265. We have seen the Doctors strength in the defence of his indirect answer and consideration of the Covenant which being done he proceeds to reinforce his direct answer and Goliah like being encouraged by the stature of little Mr. Crofton not taking notice of his stone and sling he triumphantly enters and tauntingly crieth Mr. Croftons fear good man is lest Dr. Gaudens down right blows may quite break in sunder Pag. 273 274. whatever may be of sacred bond in the Covenant the Reader that well regardeth the strength of his book cannot but with Laughter say there was great cause of fear but the best is it was but a fear and so on past for in the next assault Mr. Crofton is victor Mr. Croftons note that the paucity of the Covenanters doth not discharge its obligation is true had not Mr. Crofton much cause of fear and trouble I but in making Dr. Gauden one of the number Mr. Crofton reckoned without his host when that appears Mr. Crofton will cry true but the Doctor doth not dare not deny he sware it which if he should Mr. Crofton can tell who heard him preanh upon the Covenant acd saw him in the Pulpit at Bocking lift up his hand and swear it He doth indeed like a shifting runnegado labour to darken the act which retorts on his conscience in his now estate and tell us he never took an oath but those appointed by Law he might reckon the Covenant to be of this nature for the Authority of Parliament is by the Petition of Right the legal appointment of an Oath He tells us a large story how he did sense the Covenant and with what nonsense he did approve it understanding Extirpation to signifie Reformation and so by general salvoes and restrictions he cheated others and himself which Mr. Crofton hath detected in his Review of Reordination pag. 35. but may as soon acquit his soul from the bond as make the words of the Covenant bear his sence let him ●now equivocation in an Oath is no way short of Ananias and Saphira's lie unto the Holy Ghost it is much patience that the punishment hath not yet proclaimed it The Lord grant it may lead unto repentance He proceeds Mr. Crofton is apt to think the Covenant national not as in a Presbyterian illegal caetera sence which the Doctor adds but will not alter the case the sence being no way considerable to the Nationalty of it but in any sence signifies as little as other mens thoughts to the contrary But good Sir weigh the Reasons brought by Mr. Crofton and his answer to what you have objected as to the troubles of the Houses absence of some members or the like in Analepsis Anelepthe sect 6. which had you read would have saved or encreased your labour in your Reply Mr. Crofton must not shufle that into this book and therefore shall make bold to tell you His sacred Majesty and the Kingdom must submit to the plain and literal sence thereof though it seem as sowre grapes unless we will by Gods wrath set our own and childrens teeth on edge for the capacity of the Covenanters doth extend the obligation But The Doctor judgeth an oath extorted by fear to a mans private damage doth binde Pag 279. sure he means a proper damage for I cannot think he will in cool blood deny the Parents oath